The next morning exploded with the scent of caral and sibling panic.
"WAKE UP, O SUGAR-CHOSEN ONE!" Jared thundered, bursting into Evelisse’s guest room with the elegance of a caffeinated unicorn.
She sat up, hair in tangles. "Did the kingdom fall?!"
"Nope!" Jared tossed a glitter-drenched apron at her. "But today is the Royal Cake Relay, and you, dear cupcake commander, are leading Team Siblings!"
Felix poked in, face smudged with strawberry jam. "Leo tried to slice butter with a dagger. We need leadership. Preferably from soone who doesn’t burn water."
"I’m seven," Evelisse croaked.
"Exactly. Peak chaos age," Jared said proudly.
"There’s frosting. Everywhere."
"WHY?" she wailed.
"Because it’s tradition," Jared said proudly. "Siblings versus noble kids. A ssy, sugary chaosfest where reputation and whipped cream are on the line!"
"And you signed up?"
"Of course! You’re our secret weapon! Nobody can resist a tiny princess covered in flour wielding a frosting spatula."
"I wasn’t even awake!" she squeaked.
"Exactly! You didn’t object." Jared sang.
Fluffy groaned from the blanket pile. "I just woke up and this already slls like a taphorical migraine."
’I have a bad feeling,’ Evelisse thought grimly.
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
Outside, the duchess’s enormous courtyard had transford into a full-blown magical bake war.
Caelith stood off to the side near the judges, observing silently. When Evelisse t his gaze, he smiled and gave a small nod. She quickly looked away.
Hovering tables spun in orbit. Self-sifting flour danced in sparkly gusts. Giant floating signs read:
THE ROYAL CAKE RELAY — HOUSE ASHTHORNE vs THE NOBLES
Evelisse stood in the middle, hair tied up in twin buns, oversized apron nearly swallowing her whole. Her brothers flanked her like a team of chaotic sugar knights.
Across the court, the noble kids stood in stiff formation. Gleaming utensils. Coordinated piping bags. Attitude.
"They look terrifying," Evelisse whispered.
"They look constipated," Lance snorted.
"Focus," Lucien murmured, adjusting his sleeves with deadly calm.
Jared grinned. "Ti to stir up so trouble."
ROUND ONE: Mystery Ingredient Mayhem
A massive enchanted wheel spun high above. It landed on:
— Giggling cream
— Invisible lemon zest
— Singing sugar cubes
— Whipped cloudberries
A sugar cube squealed as Jared tried to grab it.
"Hold still, you squeaky goblin!" he yelled.
Felix was sweet-talking the cream. "You’re doing amazing, sweetie. Just swirl a bit to the left—there we go."
Leo flexed as he chopped cloudberries midair like a knight in a cooking ani.
Lucien stirred his bowl like he was solving a murder.
Evelisse stood frozen, unsure what to do. Then—
Marcus crouched beside her and whispered, "Two steps left. Then stir clockwise when the cube hits your spoon."
"...Why?"
"I saw it work," he murmured. "Trust ."
She followed.
The bowl glowed.
Evelisse smiled. ’He really sees the future...’
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
ROUND TWO: Decorating... ON FLOATING DISCS
The floor vanished. Discs rose under their feet. They spun. Fast.
"WHY IS THIS LEGAL?" Evelisse cried, gripping a piping bag.
Jared posed mid-spin, tossing sprinkles like confetti. "We were BORN for this!"
Lucien was perfectly upright, making lace patterns like a terrifyingly elegant robot.
Lance sared frosting war paint across his cheek. "For family!"
Callum built a miniature garden with edible bees.
Felix was decorating upside-down.
Evelisse tried to pipe a heart. It ca out as... an angry octopus?
"Adjust now!" Marcus called. "Sugar gust in 3, 2, tilt—!"
She ducked. A frosting wind whooshed over her head.
"Thanks," she panted.
He gave a small smile. "I’m watching."
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
FINAL ROUND: Obstacle Cake Run
The cakes—half-decorated, definitely magical—had to be carried across a course full of enchanted traps.
There were whipped cream geysers.
Jeering jellybean gremlins.
A fondant dragon that sneezed powdered sugar.
"TEAM, MOVE!" Evelisse shouted, carrying the base of the cake like a warrior princess.
Lucien balanced the top with scary calm.
Leo deflected a gumdrop missile.
Callum whispered sothing to a wind sprite—it held their cake tray in a gentle breeze.
Jared stopped mid-run to wink at the noble girls. "Ladies."
A pastry cannon exploded.
Marcus grabbed Evelisse’s arm. "NOW—duck left!"
She obeyed.
They rolled under a flying pie.
And just like that—they crossed the finish line.
Their cake: wobbly, sparkly, oddly scented—but made with sibling chaos and affection.
The nobles’ cake? Flawless. Cold. No soul.
The judge took a bite of Evelisse’s cake.
His eyes sparkled.
He cried. "IT TASTES LIKE CHILDHOOD!"
Cheers erupted.
They’d won.
Jared dipped, bowing to the nobles dramatically.
Felix was already painting the cake on a scroll.
Leo flexed like he’d just won a wrestling match.
Lucien... smirked.
Marcus smiled at Evelisse. "Told you you’d win."
Lance tossed flour in the air like fireworks.
Callum quietly shared bites with birds.
Evelisse bead.
But then—
A servant approached, holding a small silver box.
"Your prize, Princess Evelisse."
She opened it.
Inside...
A moon lily.
Just like the one she’d found.
Just like the one she showed her mother.
Just like the one that wasn’t supposed to exist anymore.
Her heart dropped.
She stared.
Behind the lily, the rest of the box held harmless things. A charm bracelet. A sparkly comb. A miniature cake bell.
But all she saw was that flower.
Her smile stayed on her face.
She had to.
Everyone was cheering.
Even Fluffy quieted.
’Why now? Why again?’
She closed the lid gently.
"Thank you," she said, voice light. "It’s very pretty."
Caelith, from across the lawn, narrowed his eyes.
He had seen her flinch.
He had seen the tremble in her hands.
He had seen the flower.
And he knew...
This wasn’t just a ga anymore.
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
Later that night, Evelisse sat alone in the quiet drawing room, cradling the silver box like it might explode.
The fire crackled. Snugglewuff snored in his biscuit bed. Fluffy floated nearby, silent for once.
She placed the box on her lap, fingers brushing the moon lily again.
Soft. Pale. Fragrant with a sweetness that didn’t belong in this tiline.
It was the sa.
Not similar. Not almost.
The exact sa flower she had reported to her mother few days ago—when it first appeared in a mystery gift box no one could trace.
Her mother had smiled then.
A very specific smile.
The kind people used when they were shielding a child from sothing sharp.
"I took care of it," Queen Seraphina had said. "You don’t need to worry about moon lilies anymore."
But here it was. Again.
And Evelisse knew what that ant now.
She hadn’t imagined it.
Soone else rembered too.
Soone who wanted her to rember.
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